Table of Contents
Online Sports Betting in Miami, FL
While Miami is most popular for its sandy beaches, sunny weather, and amazing nightlife, the city also hosts a wide variety of sports teams and communities that could please any fan. As with most cities that boast multiple professional sports teams, Miami is also the home of sports betting and casino gaming fans both online and in person.
Miami has the full mix of legendary athletes, unbeatable dynasties, and teams that have gone through some rough years. The city has professional sports teams that compete in basketball, baseball, football, hockey, and soccer. All these franchises have seen their share of good seasons as well as bad.
In the article below, we will take an in-depth look at everything you need to know about sports, sports betting, casinos, and online gambling in the city of Miami. We will look at all the teams that reside here, the horse racing tracks, the laws around sports betting, and the current state of online gambling. So, if you live in Miami or stop in for a visit, you can be prepared to place bets and gamble without having to worry about getting into any trouble! Let’s get started.
Miami Online Gambling Legislation Overview
As with any city, we first need to take a look at what is legal and what is not. We will look at all the options for gambling, sports betting, lottery, horse racing, and everything else that you can and can’t do in the city of Miami.
What is Legal
First, we are going to look at what is legal to do in Miami. Everything in this next section is free and clear and will not expose you to any fines. So, let’s take a look!
Charitable Gambling
Charity games such as and raffles are perfectly legal in the state of Florida as well as the city of Miami. If you are interested in playing some higher stakes bingo games, head over to the Seminole tribal territories for the biggest prizes. Some of the top bingo halls in Miami are listed below:
- The Bingo Zone
- Westchester Bingo
- Midway Mall Bingo
- Horse and Dog Racing
Horse racing has a long and proud history in Miami as well as the state of Florida. In Miami, you can catch the horse races at either the Calder Casino, Gulfstream Park Racing Casino, or the Hialeah Park Racing Casino. There are many locations with pari-mutuel machines for horse and dog racing. However, Florida has just passed a statewide ban on greyhound racing and has since closed its last dog racing track.
Land-Based Casinos in Miami
Miami holds some incredible options for slot based casinos, and throughout Florida, you can find World Class casinos such and the Hard Rock. However, these casinos don’t allow for games like Craps or Roulette. Luckily, the folks that reside in Miami have the option to take cruises with no particular destination except international waters. Once they reach this destination, they are allowed to play any games they wish and be back home for dinner! Most of the land-based casinos reside on Seminole Tribal Lands throughout the state of Florida.
Lottery Betting in Miami
Lottery betting is totally legal in Miami, and the state of Florida also participates in inter-State games like the Powerball. The lottery goes way back in Florida as it holds the United States version of the popular Hispanic Bolita game.
Miami Poker Rooms
In the great city of Miami, poker rooms are totally legal. Most of the card rooms are associated with the Tribal casino and the race tracks as well. In 2008, Florida increased the maximum bet from $2 to $100, and poker has flourished since. Miami residents can enjoy some competitive tournaments and regular cash games that roll through town. Some great options for poker rooms to check out are the following:
Off Track Betting
As one of the only options available for sports betting in the state of Florida, off-track betting is allowed in Miami. With gambling laws pretty much limiting gambling to Indian reservations, these casinos are your best bet for finding Pari-Mutuel gambling machines that allow you to bet on races taking place all over the country.
What is Not Legal
Now that we have covered what is legal, let’s take a look at what will absolutely get you into trouble. While the state of Florida does provide you with great options for wagering, the state does have some limitations that you need to look out for. Let’s dive in.
Online Gambling
Unfortunately, online gambling of any sort is against the law in Miami. Recent changes to the laws in the state of Florida have made it completely illegal to own or operate an internet cafe casino that was once used for gambling online. The new laws cover the use of any phone, tablet, or computer that are being used as online gambling devices.
Sports Betting
Unfortunately, if you are a resident of the great city of Miami, sports betting at any physical location is illegal and not available anywhere in Florida. With the exception of horse racing, no forms of sports betting either online or at a physical location has yet to be legalized. It is, however, being considered and discussed among the lawmakers of Florida and could be a possibility in the future. But, until it does, the people of Miami will be stuck opening accounts with offshore websites.
Miami Sports Betting Options
Unfortunately, as we will most likely state multiple times throughout this article, the sad truth remains the same. Sports betting, with the exception of pari-mutuel sports, is illegal in the state of Florida. This means anyone operating a sportsbook or even participating in sports betting is breaking the law. However, lawmakers are looking into the possibility of what legalizing sports betting would entail. Hopefully in the future this will eventually lead to Florida following some of the states who have already jumped on board and regulating some sportsbooks in the state.
With that being said, if it were to happen and Florida legalized sports betting, it would be good to know where some of the sportsbooks could be located. In the section below, we will be going over some of the possible landing spots should the state allow for sports betting in Miami!
Physical Gambling Locations in Miami
Casino Miami
Casino Miami is one of the hottest casinos in the city with over 6,000 square feet of floor space. The casino not only holds a wide variety of slot machines and electronic table games but also holds excellent concerts with popular musicians performing here on a regular basis. The electronic table games include games such as roulette live, traditional roulette, blackjack, and Royal Match. Casino Miami also holds over 1,000 state-of-the-art Las Vegas-style slot machines with popular games like Royal Reels, Diamond Lotto, Shockwave, Solstice Triple Sparkle, and Willy Wonka World of Wonka.
Check Casino Miami promo code and bonus options.
Magic City Casino
The Magic City Casino led the charge when it comes to Las Vegas-style slot machines as they were the first to bring them to the city of Miami. The casino features over 800 of all the popular slot machine games and some truly amazing poker tables. The Magic City Casino also gives customers a good amount of dining options that will keep gamblers content as they face off with the dealers and machines of the casino.
Check Magic City Casino and Sportsbook promo code and bonus options.
Hialeah Park Racing and Casino
The casino at Hialeah Park Racing and Casino definitely does not disappoint. When you stop in for a visit, enjoy over 850 slot available that hold only the most up to date machine you will find. This includes the like of Blackjack and Roulette! For poker players, the entire second floor has been expanded into a giant poker room with over 33 tables. Some of the games available to players are Texas Hold ‘Em, 7 Card Stud, and Omaha Hi-Lo. They even have poker tables on the terrace for those who like to enjoy a cigar when playing hands of poker!
When it comes to dining and entertainment, the casino has you covered. Choose from a variety of different high-end bars and endless dining options that are available at Hialeah Park. The casino is not done building, however, as they plan to add a hotel for current residents of the surrounding areas to enjoy as well as anyone coming in from out of state. The casino is close to everything such as the airport, Miami, and Miami beach.
Calder Casino
The Calder Casino was once the home to a legendary race track owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated and operated by the Stronach Group. 1,400 stalls, as well as the Calder Casino grandstand, were destroyed in 2016 and the Stronach group informed the public to head over to Gulfstream Park to enjoy the races. Now it holds a rich history in horse racing as well as the home of a thrilling and energetic casino.
The Calder casino has over 10,000 square feet of floor space and holds over 1,100 slot machines. The casino opened in 2019 and has all of the best options for slot machines, electronic table games, great promotions, and even bingo nights every Wednesday and Friday. Calder also hosts a backyard casino with over 75 games patrons can choose from.
Check Calder Casino Miami promo code and bonus options.
Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino
Not only is the Gulfstream park casino one of the most electric casinos in the Miami area, but it is one of the most coveted casinos in all of South Florida! The casino never closes and even features two floors of action-packed gaming. The Gulfstream holds close to 800 Las Vegas Style slot machines and 64 high limit slot games. For poker players, the Gulfstream features 20 live-action poker tables that are available for the casual player and high stakes poker player alike. The casino holds a wide range of promotions and tournaments, and if you join the Good Luck Players Club, you can access some amazing benefits such as free entries to giveaways and rewards.
They have flat screen TV’s scattered throughout the casino for sports fans and have great options for dining, drinks, and even free drinks while you are actively playing!
Oh yeah, and the Wifi is totally free.
Miami Online Casinos and Sportsbooks
This is obviously not an option in the entire state of Florida. Not only is online casino gambling illegal in Florida, but sports betting is as well. So, we are most likely a long way from seeing any online sportsbook or casino popping up in the future. Unfortunately, offshore sites are the only option for Miami sports bettors, and even those could land you in some trouble. It is recommended to lay off those sites until we see where the lawmakers of Florida land with this decision.
Miami Online Poker Options
As we mentioned above, whether you are betting on sports or playing online casino games, you are breaking the law in the state of Florida. In recent years, internet gambling cafes were available to the public for sitting down and placing their bets and wagers. Unfortunately, those days have passed, and it doesn’t seem likely that things will change anytime soon. While lawmakers consider opening up sportsbooks, one can only hope that they find a way to regulate online gambling and sports betting options as well.
Miami Professional Sports Teams
The city of Miami has been blessed with some of the greatest sports teams and legendary players to have ever graced their respective sports. Legends like Lebron James and Dan Marino have participated in Miami sports and championships have been won as well as some landing in the hall of fame. The Miami Dolphins have gone unbeaten, and the Miami Heat have won multiple championships with a dream team lineup.
Miami has professional teams that compete in a variety of different sports, including professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer. The teams are as follows:
- Miami Heat
- Miami Dolphins
- Miami Marlins
- Inter Miami FC
- Miami FC
In the section below, we will be going over everything you need to know about the teams that compete in this city. We will look at their backgrounds, their achievements, as well as where they currently stand amongst their competition. So, let’s get started!
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are a beloved professional basketball team in the NBA that compete in the Eastern Conference Southeast division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1988 and plays all of their home games in American Airlines Arena. The Heat started as an expansion team and are owned by Micky Arison. The Heat won their first NBA Title in 2006 with the help of Dwayne Wade and legendary basketball star Shaquille O’Neal. Then, in 2010, the Heat picked up superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh followed by winning two additional titles back-to-back in 2012 and 2013. With this lineup, the Heat would win four straight division titles and have their shot at the finals in every single season.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional football team in the NFL that competes in the AFC East division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1965 and played their first season in 1966. The Dolphins are headquartered out of Davie, Florida and play all of their home games in Hard Rock Stadium after moving there from the Miami Orange Bowl in 1986. The Dolphins have had their ups and downs over the last few decades and presented some of the most dominant teams that the NFL has ever seen. From 1971 to 1973, the Dolphins made it to the Super Bowl every year winning two of them and even having a perfect season without losing a single game. They became the first team ever to make it to the SuperBowl for three consecutive seasons. The Dolphins were also the home to one of the most successful quarterbacks of all time, Dan Marino.
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team in Major League Baseball that competes in the NL East division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1993 and plays all of their home games in Marlins Park after moving there from the Hard Rock Stadium in 2011. The team is currently owned by legendary Yankees star Derek Jeter and has two World Series titles under their belt.
Inter Miami FC
The Miami Heat are a professional soccer team in Major League Soccer that will compete in Miami in the year 2020. They compete in the Eastern Conference Southeast division of the league. The Franchise was founded in 2018 and will play their home games in New Fort Lauderdale Stadium. Miami Freedom Park LLC owns the team with soccer superstar David Beckham at the helm on bringing this team to the city.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional hockey team in the NBA that compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the league. The Franchise was founded in 1993 and plays all of their home games in BB&T Center. The Panthers are currently the owners of one Conference Championship but have yet to bring home the Stanley Cup. The Panthers are headquartered out of Sunrise, Florida and owned by the Sunrise Sports and Entertainment Group.
Miami Sports Betting Communities, Bars, Forums, and Blogs
As with any massively popular city with multiple options for sports and teams to cheer on, Miami has a pretty sound sports culture amongst the city. So, it is no surprise that sports bars, blogs, and even communities have sprung up everywhere that keep the fans, as well as the sports bettors of Miami, informed on where their teams are at and how they are looking going forward. In the section below, we will be going over all of the nooks and crannies of the city that allow fans and sports bettors to get the latest news and updates on what is going on with the sports teams of the city.
Little Havana
Right in the heart of Little Havana, you will find the Miami Marlins stadium as well as multiple sports bars and restaurants that will get you psyched for the games. This is a great destination for anyone interested in watching Miami sports as well as having some pregame drinks before heading to Marlins Park. Some of the best sports bars in Little Havana are listed below:
- Batting Cage Sports Bar & Lounge
- Labios Bar
- Fronton Bar
- Online Blogs and Forums
As with most cities, there are plenty of blogs and forums online to keep up to date with the latest news for Miami sports. Below, we have listed a few of the most popular blogs the residents of Miami can use to stay in tune with their home teams.
- State of the U – Miami Hurricanes Website
- Hot Hot Hoops – Miami Heat Community
- Fish Stripes – Miami Marlins Community
- The Phinsider – Miami Dolphins Community
